In a city that prides itself on progress, an entire section of society remains overlooked. Bhopal has launched a mobile application, Yes to Access, to help persons with disabilities find accessible locations. But for many, an app is hardly enough to bridge the vast gap between policy and reality.
According to the 2011 census, Bhopal had 84,502 persons with disabilities. The present numbers remain unknown—perhaps because they are not truly counted, not truly seen.
Pradeep Thakur, a resident of Ashoka Garden, has lived with polio since childhood. He navigates life on his own, holding a private job, but his words carry frustration. “The government thinks disability only means not being able to walk. But what about those who cannot see, hear, or speak? They have put lifts in buildings, but where are the Braille signs? Where are the audio announcements? It feels like the world is built for everyone—except us.”
Even when infrastructure exists, it often works against them. “Look at the footpaths,” he says. “They’ve installed iron poles in the middle. A person in a wheelchair—should they fly over them?” His voice is edged with sarcasm, but the reality he describes is grim. “The government sees us as disabled because we can’t do anything. But in our eyes, it is the government that is disabled—it cannot do anything for us.”
Anjali, who also struggles with mobility impairments, echoes his frustration. “Name one public transport service in Bhopal where a wheelchair can be accommodated. Buses, cabs, autos—none are designed for us.” Her words reveal not just inconvenience but isolation. “Even if I had a great education, what job would I get? Those with government jobs or supportive families survive, but what about the rest of us?”
At a paan shop in Govindpura, Shanu, a disabled shopkeeper, dismisses government initiatives with a tired wave of his hand. “They do whatever they want—make an app, hold an event, take some photos. But who tells us about it? Who will explain it to us? We don’t even know it exists.”
The barriers in Bhopal are not just physical; they are societal, systemic, and deeply ingrained. There are no tactile pathways for the visually impaired, no audio announcements at bus stands and hospitals, no digital displays at intersections, no sign language interpreters in government offices. For a city that speaks of progress, accessibility remains an afterthought.
An app might show which places are accessible, but it cannot create access where none exists. Until Bhopal builds a world where persons with disabilities do not have to fight for their right to move, work, or simply exist with dignity, true progress will remain out of reach.
